FIJI will anchor its global negotiating strategy around three core pillars during the upcoming Pre-COP Summit in Nadi.
They are in keeping the 1.5°C temperature target alive, reforming access to climate finance, and formally elevating ocean governance onto the official UN negotiating track.
Addressing journalists during a media training workshop, Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change Dr Sivendra Michael said that the Pre-COP platform serves as a critical bridge to resolve major political divides prior to formal climate negotiations.
Dr Michael warned that maintaining the 1.5°C threshold remains a hard-fought battle due to persistent resistance from major fossil-fuel-producing nations.
”Mitigation work programme has not been agreed for the last five years,” Dr Michael said.
“We have had major blocks from countries, and one of the most positions that these countries are taking is that developed countries have already mined out their fossil fuel and they have grown in wealth.
On climate finance, Dr Michael highlighted Fiji’s firm stance against expanding private-sector “mobilisation” models at the expense of direct grants provided by developed nations.
”You cannot talk about mobilisation without talking about provision. We need provision of finance in order for us to be able to mobilise the additional money.
“There are things in the Pacific that we should not be asking loans for. This should be coming purely from grants.”
Lastly, Dr Michael noted that Fiji will leverage its position to push for SDG 14, life below water, to transition from subsidiary discussions into a formal decision item at the higher COP level.
The Pre-COP Summit in Nadi is an invite-only event held under the UNFCCC framework.
